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SEQUENCE:18838863
CREATED:20130418T020800Z
DESCRIPTION:6-9 homeless people carried forward their plan to document the lack of
shelter in Santa Cruz and then educate the public through direct action
tonight. I am told they plan to rally on the sidewalk outside the main post
office in downtown Santa Cruz at the intersection of Water and Pacific
Avenuen at 9 PM. Anyone interested is invited. Bring a cell phone if you
have one to help document. I was asked to pass on this and the following
information.\n\nPILGRIMAGE TO CORAL STREET\nAs planned a week before, the
group of people went to the Homeless (Lack of) Services Center at 115 Coral
St. earlier this afternoon and requested to be put on the Waiting List for
the Paul Lee Loft. They were advised by Charles, a worker there, that the
shelters were full but that they'd be put on the Waiting List after filling
out an application. When asked if they could get a receipt or some
documentation for their Waiting List status, Charles said no, nor would he
give them any written statement about the shelter being full.\n\nOther
asked Charles the same question and told him that Executive Director Monica
Martinez had publicly stated that on request, the HLOSC would provide
receipts that one was on the Waiting List. Christine, another worker, and
he then agreed to do so. He acknowledged he'd not done so before in the
last year. \n\nSince they had no receipts available, HUFF workers provided
their own version of a receipt which they'd created, anticipating that the
HLOSC wouldn't have any handy. Christine and the HLOSC staff helpfully
copied, filled out, and signed them for the 8 or so clients applying,
documenting that each person was on the Waiting List for the Paul Lee
Loft.\n\nTHE IMPORTANCE OF WAITING LIST STATUS\nWaiting List status means
that camping tickets will automatically be dismissed by the City Attorney's
office prior to court, as stipulated by MC 6.36.055. It might also
persuade the police of the futility and even impropriety of giving out
camping tickets at all, since all such tickets are supposed to be
automatically dismissed.\n\nWe also interviewed a few workers out there who
confirmed that there were no spaces available on the Paul Lee
Loft--suggesting that anyone cited for the more serious offense of "illegal
lodging" (PC 647e) would have a "necessity" defense in court.\n\nI hope
this procedure will be followed by every homeless person so that they can
more safely sleep in groups, well-lighted areas, and closer to police
protection--given the increased risks homeless people face outside from
violence. The procedure again is to go to the HLOSC M-F around noon, sign
up for the Paul Lee Loft Waiting List, and get a receipt indicating you are
on the list. You then have to check in once a week or your name will be
removed from the list.\n\nTONIGHT OUTSIDE ON THE SIDEWALK NEAR THE MAIN
POST OFFICE\nThis group of homeless people claims to have repeatedly been
harassed by police and/or rangers for simply being on public property, to
say nothing of sleeping. In response, it is my understanding they intend
to exercise their right to be on the sidewalk (perhaps another group might
call it "Positive Loitering"), even to sleep there, since they have no
legal place to sleep.\n\nTwo of those involved--Freedom and Andrew--were
arrested yesterday and apparently face misdemeanor charges involving
something like "disobeying an officer". (See "ALERT: Two Arrested For
"Being" in the Pogonip" at
http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2013/04/16/18735297.php) with trial slated
for May 14th.) \n\nActivists hope to alert the community to the human
rights that are being ignored or trampled. To me these would be (as
starters): (a) there is no legal shelter for 95% of the homeless community;
(b) police, rangers, and vigilantes are targeting homeless people anyway
with false "public safety" concerns; (c) there are no public bathrooms open
downtown at night, yet homeless people are blamed for human waste; and (d)
homeless people receive a level of over-policing for their very existence
under both existing laws and the recent needle hysteria.\n\nThe recently
formed hand-picked right-wing "Public Safety" Task Force (which includes no
homeless people or advocates) is an example of the "wrong road" City
Council has taken.\n\nI encourage people to support this demonstration\n
https://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2013/04/17/18735380.php
SUMMARY:Sleepless in Santa Cruz: Survival Sidewalk Sleep-Out next to Main Post Office
LOCATION:Santa Cruz Main Post Office, corner of Water Street and Front Street, Santa
Cruz
URL:https://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2013/04/17/18735380.php
DTSTART:20130418T040000Z
DTEND:20130418T160000Z
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